Murtaza breaks down the United States' relationship to the ICC and why it stands as the great chance to bring war crimes against the US officials from the George W. Bush administration. The crimes levied against US officials in Afghanistan deal specifically with detention policies enacted by American military and government officials and contractors hired to help the war effort beginning in 2003. Michael and Murtaza place these accusations in the context of a Trump administration that is a strange brew of outwardly isolationist rhetoric while maintaining deference to "the Generals" and unfettered military action. Taking a broader focus in the Middle East, Murtaza and Michael discuss the path forward in Syria and what happens at the end of "revolution," and what happens after "people cannot breathe anymore." Now in Syria, Murtaza sees a double down from Assad, a government that employs violence and oppression in the near future.

And in the Fun Half: Trump-worshippers are unenthusiastic about the midterms, why doorknocking works, Michael Moore's covering Flint, MI, could Democrats impeach Kavanaugh, Bill Cosby's publicist says his client and Kavanaugh are victims of a "sex war," Trump says China will keep the GOP from keeping its majority in November, chances of Avenatti in 2020, impeaching Kavanaugh from the DC Circuit court, how voting works in Brasil, engaging with anarcho-syndicalists, personal politics & voting, Trump talks options in Venezuela, Missouri GOP Senate candidate uses his son pre-existing condition to push ACA repeal, Texas State Senator Charles Schwertner is under investigation for sexual misconduct, gaming as recruiting ground for white nationalist groups, plus your calls and IMs!

Louis Hyman joins us to discuss his book, Temp: How American Work, American Business and the American Dream Became Temporary. In this book, Hyman looks at changes in the economy from the 1930s to the 1970s and from the 1970s to today. The New Deal era's efforts to make capitalism work for "everybody" (but mostly for white men). The cultural shift that occurred in the '60s and '70s with the rise of the conglomerate and the use of efficiency consultants. How the financial crisis of the 1970s enabled this shift. How bosses began to see women and POC as a reserve pool of labor. How the rise of the gig economy corresponds with that of the service economy. The need for new labor formations that are not mere reiterations of what we saw during the New Deal era.

Rep. Kevin Cramer questions whether the accusation against Kavanaugh should disqualify him, even if it's true.

On the fun half: Ronald Raygun on the rape in "Revenge of the Nerds" and how abuse is normalized. Michael Avenatti explains to Rachel Maddow why Mark Judge needs to go before the Senate amid gang rape allegation. Avenatti's questions for Kavanaugh emailed to Mike Davis. Kavanaugh's Yale roommate believes he could have done it; Kav's high school yearbook page full of references to drinking, being a "Renate alum" (Renate being a girl they all held hands with). Kavanaugh says he "never did such a thing," repeats himself explaining away Deborah Ramirez allegations. Kav's defense against gang rape claim: he was a virgin for "many years" after high school. Kav gets emotional defending his record with women law clerks, wants fairness. Mindy on how Republican women are gender traitors. Dave Rubin tries to re-appropriate the term "reactionary right" in total galaxy brain move. Anti-Kav protesters chase Ted Cruz out of DC restaurant, compare his looks unfavorably to those of Beto O'Rourke.

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On today's show: Is deputy AG Rod Rosenstein about to get fired for his role in the Mueller investigation? Sean Hannity expects Donald Trump will fire Robert Mueller after Hurricane Florence passes. Mitch McConnell says they're going to "plow through" with Kavanaugh's nomination. Kavanaugh pal Ed Whelan, president of the Ethics and Public Policy Center, libels a random person in rush to publicize doppelganger theory. Fox and Friends slow to let go of doppelganger theory. What was the "Women for Kavanaugh" bus tour really about? Fox and Friends "legal expert": Kavanaugh "has been rehabilitated," so there's no problem confirming him. "Republican voter" women on CNN defending Kavanaugh are actually GOP operatives.

On the fun half: GOP AZ Rep. Paul Gosar's brothers and sisters appear in ad for his opponent, David Brill. Jimmy Dore calls out AOC for fast endorsement of Cuomo, has no understanding of how power works. A caller spotlights how liberals are afraid of conflict. Jamie notes that most working class people don't vote and many can't, and the left shouldn't leave them behind. Jeff in Philly rails against AOC, says Crowley is a "better Democrat" than her. A caller marvels at Jimmy Dorr's idiocy.

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Heather "Digby" Parton (@digby56), of Salon.com and Hullabaloo, joins us to break down the latest news from Washington. Kavanaugh was promoted from the start as someone who is nice to women; coincidence? Will blind GOP support of Kavanaugh turn off Republican women voters? Digby says yes. What will happen to abortion law if Roe is overturned? Parallels with the Anita Hill hearings and the old tactic of slut-shaming. Kav's damning connection to sexual harasser Alex Kozinski. Paul Manafort's plea deal.

Corey Pein (@coreypein), author of "Live, Work, Work, Work, Die: A Journey Into The Savage Heart of Silicon Valley" and host of the "News From Nowhere" podcast, joins us. Jordan Peterson is suing a Cornell professor for calling him a misogynist; so much for the free exchange of ideas. The parallels with Richard Spencer and how the far right adapts to whatever kind of society they're operating within, appropriating liberal values they do not believe in. Will Mike Bloomberg's "I'd do her" comments and blatant conflicts of interest torpedo his presidential aspirations? Corey recommends three movies: "The Death of Stalin," "Sorry to Bother You," and "Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle."

On the fun half: Tony Blair says the British should "build bridges" with Steve Bannon. Fran from Philly on Catholic morality and lust. Noam Chomsky and his Brazilian wife Valeria Wasserman visit Lula in prison. Brenda on the latest right wing Youtube opportunist, a transphobic and sexist trans woman. Does the Dalai Lama support ethno-nationalism?

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Professor Adam Tooze latest book, Crashed How A Decade of Financial Crisis Changed the World, takes a detailed look at the fallout from the 2008 financial crash following the subprime mortgage crisis. Tooze takes a global view of the financial meltdown and shows how no part of our global banking system was left unaffected by this series of financial heart attacks. The windup to the crisis can be attributed to the surge in subprime mortgage in 2004 and the short-term, money-market based funding which led to the crisis in 2008. The market could have recovered if only small banks were investing in the subprime field, however, the systemic risk came from the biggest banks having such big investment in the shakiest subprime loan investments.

Tooze sees the US's technocratic response to the crash as fairly robust but one that led each side of the political spectrum in opposite direction--namely, the Tea Party & Occupy Wall Street. Tooze sees the contemporary Republican Party as absolutely opposed to the idea that government can create policies to correct market inefficiencies or its bad actors--it can only liberate. Beyond the US, Tooze believes that similar strains of populist and nationalism have sprung up in Spain, Greece, Portugal, and Italy. Tooze and Sam discuss how privatizing profits and socializing costs in the post-2008 crash are the by-products Obama and his administration choosing to save the banks and hand the people its cost while Americans lost their homes, jobs, and invested wealth.

So where are we now? According to Tooze, we are heading in the wrong direction towards a crisis, although one that is not as bad as 2008. America's relationship with emerging markets is a complex one that should concern the global community. But above all, the unwinding of Dodd-Frank will allow banks to work with fewer checks and increase the chances of market downturns in the future.

On the fun half: Trump says he's disappointed in Jeff Sessions "for many reasons." "Don Jr." educates us on the evils of dick shaming. An update on the crisis in Yemen and US culpability in it. A caller who read Jordan Peterson's book summarizes lobster man's thoughts on immigrants. Kennedy talks about weed soda on Fox Business News. Willie Nelson says on 'The View' that he supports Beto O'Rourke, doesn't care what anyone thinks of his politics. Is boomer hatred the class hatred of fools? Stormy Daniels' role in the cultural fight against Trump. Laurie Bertram Roberts (@smartstatistic) of the Mississippi Reproductive Freedom Fund (@fundmsabortions) on the history of abortion restrictions and their links to anxiety about white genocide.

On today's show: Mazie Hirono grills Kavanaugh about his clerkship with personal mentor Judge Alex Kozinski and how it's possible he never heard the open secret of his abusive behavior.

Jason Stanley (@jasonintrator), Professor of Philosophy at Yale, joins us to discuss his new book, 'How Fascism Works.' In this book, Stanley examines fascism from a philosophical perspective to catalog the various elements of fascist tactics, ideology and propaganda, including: law and order policy, attacking unions, destruction of norms, the one party state, looking back to a mythic past, and playing on people's anxiety during a crisis. Also on the menu: a zero sum mentality, anti-intellectualism, sexual angst, social conservatism, and social Darwinist ideas that naturalize hierarchy.

On the fun half: Stormy Daniels describes Trump's unusual, mushroom-like penis. Ken Starr says on CSPAN that he's "reaffirmed in my firm belief" in Kavanaugh because of all the women supporting him...by which we guess he means the 5 of 65 who stand by their support. Erick Erickson blows lid off Ford's eviction revenge plot; Kav's creepy friend Mark Judge flip-flops on what he remembers. Ted Cruz wishes Dems wouldn't be so quick to blame cops when they kill people; Beto O'Rourke speaks to Dallas church about Botham Jean's unjustifiable murder. Joe Rogan parrots conspiracy theories about land reform in South Africa. Trump's complacency may hurt GOP in midterms. McDonald's workers strike for $15/hour and against sexual harassment, with the support of Fight for 15. Disabled rights under attack in CA. Mark Judge's weird YouTube page. Caller Mariana reminds us how slippery and adaptable fascist messaging and tactics can be.

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Author Beth Macy (@papergirlmacy) joins us to discuss her new book, "DOPESICK: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company that Addicted America." For this book, Macy investigated the long term impacts the over-prescription of opiates has had on US communities. How unemployment drove a secondary market for opiates. Purdue Pharmaceutical's 1990s marketing of Oxycontin in places where workplace injuries were highest and the money they funneled into convincing people it was safe. The large budget Purdue devoted to wooing doctors and nurses. The type of harm reduction measures that work and where they've been implemented. Does anyone responsible for this epidemic feel any remorse?

On the fun half: It's time for Democrats to let go of their fealty to norms that no longer exist. Susan Collins says she will reserve judgment on the Kavanaugh accusation. Erick Erickson defends Brett Kavanaugh; Trump Jr. mocks the accusation on Instagram. A caller shares his experience in recovery, recommends kratom as an alternative to maintenance drugs like methadone. A Marxist perspective on the Cardi B/Nicki Minaj feud. Australian school girl Harper Nielsen takes a knee during national anthem in solidarity with indigenous people. A caller recalls how he first got hooked on opiates through his student health center.

Check out Jamie's op-ed on the New York primary results at NBC News, her piece on psychedelic therapy for opiate addiction at Bust, and her piece on why addicts are being charged with murder at Rolling Stone

Cynthia Nixon comes up short in her challenge of Andrew Cuomo, but progressives gain across New York State.

The Host of the Benjamin Dixon, Benjamin Dixon (@BenjaminPDixon ) joins us and explains the breaking news of the Paul Manafort plea deal. Manafort will plead guilty to defrauding the United States. Serious allegations of sexual assault by SCOTUS nominee, Brett Kavanaugh. Was California Senator, Diane Feinstein, hiding the Kavanaugh allegations? Diane Feinstein proves she is politically and morally failing. Why republicans almost certainly knew about the allegations against Kavanaugh. Diene Feinstein pulls a Joe Biden. The IDC loses big in New York and why there is progressive momentum in New York politics and what it teaches us about the "dum dum left". The Jimmy Dore business model and the left version of Alex Jones. Why the dum dums are stupid about Obama and insane on Tucker Carelson and the Police and PR teams are smearing Botham Jean, after he was murdered in his apartment by an off duty police department.

Legendary comedian and Majority Report amigo Andy Kindler (@AndyKindler), defends his honor after a brutal review of his comedy in the UK. Andy still hates Ricky Gervais. Was there a mob mentality at the Kindler show. Bill O'Reilly happy that Michelle Wolf lost her show on Netflix, still seems unhappy and Dennis Miller getting even less funny?? And what does Andy Kindler do during the day?

On The Fun Half: Diane Feinstein needs to go. The Republican money advantage and how to understand ideology. Republicans in Texas remove Beto signs from someones sign. Tucker Carelson and Michael Avenatti, have a stupid fight and its kind of funny. Lou Dobbs and Ed Rollins are lying and disgusting about Trump's lies on Puerto Rico. How DuPont poisoned America and the lawsuits that took them down. Jerry Brown attacks Trump on Climate. Random Rush and your calls and IMs.